Motor-driven massaging instrument



Dec. 2, A1941. M. A. AMER MOTOR DRIVEN MASSAGING INSTRUMENT Filed Feb.'24, 1947 /NVENTOR Hwy/27e mef TT'oRA/EY Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT A'() `FF'FI5(.`,:E

'MGTRSDRWEN MASSAGING INSTRUMENI Myrtle A. Amer, Los Angeles, Calif.

.Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,259

- This invention relates trramot'o'r''drivenaph-v .to an improved Vmeansfor adi'usting the extent of the massaginglm'ovement 4given to saidapplicator duringits Ymotor vdri-ven operation.

The invention also pertainsv to anew combined manual andfmechanicalymethod of'givi'ng a massage `to the surface ofthe-human body tostimulate circulatio-n of the blood with a View to removing abnormalconditions *resulting from a faulty circulation.

Among the'objects-of theinvention are-to provide a more eflicient-meansfor applying a deep and vigorous massageto theskinand underlying tissuesof the human body; t'o provide an improved means for '-,regulating the.extent of the massaging movement; and to prnvidezanapllicator having animproved .arrangement .of multiple air rarifying, or suction, cupsutilizable to apply a vigorous yet cushioned, andtherefore painlessmassage. l

A more specific-object listo-provide a massaging means particularly welladapted to massage the scalp in a vigorous yet painless manner thus tostimulate the circulation of the scalp, and hair, improve the conditionof the hair and safeguard against baldness, and dandruif,

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferredembodiment of the invention,

Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the appliance partly in section on lineI-I of Fig, 2.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the applicator portion of the device,partly in section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1. The lower portion of theapplicator housing being removed.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the applicator.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4--4 of Fig, 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the device is shown combined with amotor-carrying body 5 having a handle 6 through which are led thecurrent-supplying conductors I and 8 which also pass through theflexible cable 9. Th-e motor Il rotates in a non-gyratory manner, theshaft I2 which, in turn, adjustably carries the crank arm I3.

The preferred means for attaching said applicator to said shaft includesan arm I3 which as it appears i'n'crnssl septionirr Fig.2= hasfawidenedupper portion I5, this'p-art of the' arrm'being'sli'dably iittedint'olasgro'ove :I5 :extending ldiametrically vacross tneextremity of.the shaft I2, the dovetal joint thus providedinsuring a secure andrigid attachment of the crank arm I3 ktofsaid shaft IZ, which carriesit. and by which it .is driven.

Aspeedreducing mechanism Ifll `is positioned between the lmotor I'I--andits .drivenshaft I2 'to facilitate theiuse of aihiglierfsp'eedmotor forapplying a relatively :slow Jgyratory motionV to 1 the shaft I1.

In order toadjust `radially the arm lIll so as to vary theextent ofthegyratorymovement 'given to the applicatorzshaft Il, said arm isprovided' with artrapezoidallateralextension I8 and a :set screwI'SLisfprovidedron the-'side `ofsaid.extension I8, the'linner end :ofsaidscrewnb'elng projectable into the groove I6 likewise trapezoidal,its mouth being contracted. Saidlscrew .can be clamped against thesidevofithe: arm I-3.l :'Sai'd'shaft I'I has an enlarged endrportion .to:which-thepinzi is formed.A The'rubber.applicator'headl22 istmounted rbymeans for said :pin upon ball #bearings 23l which vbearingseareinterposed between saidihead and lthe arnns:enlargement ,'20, thusrotatably mounting saidhead upon .its shaft ..2 I..

The stationary housing 26 is secured to the motor casing 5 by screws 21and extends up around the lower portion of the casing and also downaround said shaft I2. The lower extremity cf the housing 26 is formedwith radial seat 28 into which is fitted a spring ring 29. Said head 22is also provided with a radial groove 30 into which is fitted a springring 3|. An elastic rubber, or flexible brous tube, 32 is secured in thegrooves 28 and 30 by the rings 29 and 3l respectively, 1.o provide acomplete dust and safety housing for said moving parts contained thereinand also to protect the operator from said moving parts.

It is to be seen that the diameter of the lower end of the stationarytubular housing member 26 is sufliciently great to encircle the path ofthe outer end of the crank arm I3 even when the latter is so adjusted asto provide for the desired eccentricity of movement of the applicatorhead 22. Therefore the upper end portion of the ilexible tube 32, whichis attached exteriorly around the lower end of said housing portion,does not interfere with the rotation or gyrations of said crank arm orof the applicator shaft I'I, the latter shaft always extending parallelto the produced axis of the shaft I2, An angular lengthening of theshaft I2 is thus produced.

The appliance is provided with the usual speed and current control lever33.

In using the device the operator, having adjusted the speed control 33for the desired speed, will utilize the handle 6 to press the multiplevacuum cup applicator 22 against the surface of the body with thedesired amount of force and will manually impart an auxiliary gyratorymovement thereto to supplement the gyratory movement of the mechanicallydriven applicator head 22. It will be noted that the manually graspablehandle 6 extends at right angle to the applicator driven shaft l2, thusenabling the operator more eniciently to combine a, manual gyration ofthe applicator with the mechanical gyration thereof.

I claim:

1. In a motor driven massaging instrument having a mechanically rotatedshaft, there being a groove with a contracted outer side extendingdiametrically across an extremity of said shaft, a rigid crank armslidably dovetailed into .said groove, clamping means adjustablysecuring said arm in said groove to hold the former in various positionsof longitudinal adjustment, and an applicator means including a-shaftcarried by said crank arm and projecting laterally therefrom, thusproducing an angular lengthening ofthe rst recited shaft.

2. In an electrically driven, manually supportable massaging device, acasing, a motor therein, a shaft projecting from said casing and drivenby said motor, a massaging applicator, means eccentrically mounting saidapplicator on the projecting portion of said shaft, said mounting meansincluding a crank arm rigidly attached to said shaft, and a manuallygraspable handle carried by said casing and extending at a right angleto said shaft, thus enabling the operator conveniently manually toimpart additional gyration tothe applicator.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, and said crank arm being adjustable tovary the extent of the mechanical gyration of said applicator.

4. In a motor driven massaging instrument, a motor driven shaft havingan outer end portion spaced away from the motor, a tubular housingconcentrically surrounding said shaft to a point adjacent to the outerend of the latter, a crank 4 arm secured to and extending transverselyof said outer end portion of said shaft, an applicator shaft fixed tosaid crank arm and cooperating therewith to produce an angularlengthening or extension Vof the first recited shaft, an applicator headconcentrically carried by the outer end of said applicator shaft, and aexible tube surrounding said crank arm and applicator shaft, one endportion of said tube being in a secured surrounding relation to theouter end of said tubular housing and the opposite end thereof being ina secured surrounding relation to said applicator head.

5. The subject matter of claim 4, and said tubular housing having anexternal groove around its outer end portion over which the innerportion of said flexible tube is fitted, and a retaining ringsurrounding said tubular housing and seated in said groove.

6. The subject matter of claim 4, and said applicator head having agroove around it over which the outer end portion of said flexible tubeis fitted, and a retaining ring surrounding said tubular housing andseated in said groove.

'7. In a motor driven massaging instrument, a motor, a rigid shaftstructure rotated thereby, and an applicator head concentrically securedto the outer part of said shaft structure, said head having an elasticbody engaging portion, said shaft structure being rigid throughout itslength and having in its midlength portion a crank element which impartsa gyratory massaging movement to said head when said shaft structurerotates.

8. The subject matter of claim 7, and said crank element beingadjustable to vary the extent of said gyratory movement of said head.

MYRTLE A. AMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

